IT’S MY JOB TO KEEP KOP OFF THAT PERCH
Ole: We MUST embrace our massive Anfield rivalry... and find a way to boss ’em again!
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER was part of the Manchester United team that ‘knocked Liverpool off their perch’. Now, as the United boss himself, Solskjaer knows better than anyone that Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous ambition remains the mission statement of the most successful club in English football. The 13 Premier League titles that Ferguson brought to Old Trafford means United have been champions 20 times. When Jurgen Klopp delivered Liverpool’s first title in 30 years in 2020, it was the Merseyside club’s 19th triumph. That is the simple statistic that lies at the heart of the Premier League’s fiercest rivalry.
Solskjaer, a winner of six title medals as Ferguson’s ‘baby faced assassin’ (left), said: “It’s a massive rivalry because of the history of the two clubs and the amount of titles and trophies we have won.
“There is a history between the two cities and the two football clubs. It’s a rivalry you have to embrace. You have to take it up.
“You have to hold your hands up and say they are a very good club and a very good team. And then you have to make sure you’re better than them.
“For the last four years, Liverpool have been tremendous – and we’re chasing them. Over the last four years, the results mean we’ve been behind them. But we have taken steps – and the next step is to be above them again.
“Last season is history now and, hopefully, this season we can achieve something better.”
United are looking up at Liverpool in the table once again after picking up just one point from their last three games.
That has cranked up the pressure on Solskjaer – despite the apparent security of a new three-year contract signed in the summer.
With Raphael Varane missing through injury at Leicester last week, and captain Harry Maguire (right) also struggling for fitness, United were torn apart by the Foxes.
They were found wanting defensively again in midweek when Atalanta scored two firsthalf goals to leave United staring at the possibility of being bottom of their Champions League group.
But then Cristiano Ronaldo took them into top spot by heading home a late winner to crown a stirring fightback.
United’s powers of recovery under Ferguson were the stuff of legend. But Solskjaer knows that
title-winning teams are built from the back. It is going to be a challenge to contain a free-scoring Liverpool side spearheaded brilliantly by Mo Salah today.
Solskjaer said: “We know that we were too open against Leicester, that’s for sure. We were too easy to cut through after the first half-hour. And we have conceded some bad counter-attack goals lately and set-play goals – that’s something we’re working on. We have to put it right.
“The funny thing is that this season we’ve had more players behind the ball than we did last season. But we’ve been easier to play through and if you’re going to be successful in any game, you can’t give so many chances” Solskjaer added: “It’s about us being on the front foot, being aggressive, winning our tackles. “We showed a lot of that character and belief on Wednesday night. “But we are competing at such a high level in the Champions League and Premier League that if you switch off or you nod off for even a splitsecond, you will be punished. “That’s the difference between playing at this level and playing at the one below… focus and concentration.”